The core that is J-Chavez Design Build has evolved over the last 20 years.  Jacob's interest in design and construction began in early high school as he began with drafting, sculpture and art. In these challenges he saw endless opportunities to become better, more informed and have a profound impact on people's lives through architecture.

Jacob's journey into architecture then led him to pursue a professional bachelors degree in architecture from the University of  Oregon, which he completed in 2001.  From there, he worked for various architects, such as Cathexes Inc. in Reno, Nevada, Alfred Voegels in Klamath falls and an independent practice in Ashland, Oregon.   Jacob moved to Portland in 2007 to work for Ankrom Moisan Architects, for which he completed a large commercial project, the Historic Folsom Station, to be built in Folsom, California.  While working at Ankrom Moisan, Jacob developed an interest in building science and energy efficiency, which led him to pursue experience in home performance.  He earned his certification from the Building Performance Institute to perform certified home energy assessments.  He worked for several general contractors performing assessments and then managing their respective retrofit projects.  While working in home performance, he learned first hand from some of the most talented in the growing industry and gained a wealth of knowledge about building science.

Jacob now infuses his experience and interest in timeless design with high performance construction to offer a service that is highly comprehensive, to ensure homes that are healthy, durable, functional and inspiring.  With his practical experience in home performance, design and construction, he can honestly and confidently "walk the walk" in sustainable home design and construction.

Testimonials

"I can't say enough about how efficient Jacob was testing and explaining.  He was very knowledgable and spent a lot of time with us.  He was also very good about not pressuring us. If we called or emailed, he got right back to us.  Once we finally decided to go forward with the work, they worked from morning to night  each day until the job was done.  A lot of the work Jacob did himself.  We had one large room that never got comfortable in the winter.  He rebuilt the whole duct system to that part of the house with larger ducts and less bends.  It is a tight area to work.  Problem gone.  The furnace doesn't come on nearly as much either.  They really did a great job and I trust Jacob.  I think he is very honest and hard working and I would definitely work with him again." - Billy

 

"...Jacob did an exceptional job on the my new attic space.  The door matches the trim in the rest of the room and looks like it has always been there.  Also, I now have a usable attic storage space which I have sorely needed.  It is large enough to be of real value to me but not so large as to compromise the insulation level for the house."  - Mary

 

“We love Jacob!  We feel like he listened to what our desires and wishes were from the very beginning. His designs and ideas for our home and our future building projects were an accurate reflection of our dreams. We talked through each aspect and then looked at our budget and planned things out by phases so we could proceed at a pace that would allow us to stay within budget.  Jacob was hands on from day one. This is unusual for a general contractor to spend so much time with us and on the job site. Jacob made sure things were done – not just well- but with excellence.  He desires perfection to the things he is putting his name on and it shows in his dedication and attention to details.  He wants things done right the first time.”  - Jenny and Daniel

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Certifications and Credentials

In addition to the following certifications, Jacob has also earned the (NCARB) National Council of Architectural Registration Boards  credential..

Affiliations

We are a certified New Homes Energy Star Verifier and a Home Performance Contractor with the Energy Trust of Oregon.